[Noon] [Alan's house]
Judith walked through the front door, humming to herself, yoga mat tucked under one arm. Her hair was tousled, her skin glowing, and her lips curved in a smug little smile. The locker room rendezvous with her instructor had left her loose, filled, and satisfied, and she was in no mood for Alan's whining today.
She dropped the mat by the couch, kicked off her sneakers, and poured herself a glass of cucumber water. Just as she raised it to her lips, the doorbell rang.
With an irritated sigh, she opened the door. Two women in neat blazers stood on the porch. Both carried clipboards, and their faces were carved with the kind of professional calm that meant bad news.
"Judith Harper?" the taller one asked.
"Yes," Judith said, crossing her arms. "What is it?"
The shorter woman glanced at her clipboard. "We're from Los Angeles County Child Protective Services. My name is Sandra Ortiz, and this is my colleague Dana Fields. We're here about your son. We're here regarding your son, Jacob David Harper."
Judith froze, her smug expression cracking. "Jake? What about Jake?"
Dana replied calmly. "At approximately midnight last night, Jake left this home and did not return. He presented himself at his uncle's residence several hours later. Neither you nor Mr. Harper noticed his absence until this morning. We have already talked with your husband, and according to his testimony, you didn't even care and went to your yoga class. Furthermore, there was no police report filed for a missing child. Is that correct?"
Judith blinked, her composure starting to slip. "Well… Alan was supposed to... I mean, we thought..." He took a deep breath. "Look, Jake's always dramatic. He's fine. He comes and goes. I thought he crashed at his friend's house. He always does that."
Sandra's tone sharpened. "He is ten years old. He does not 'come and go.' A child of that age leaving home unnoticed, especially overnight, is considered neglect. Combined with reports of instability in your household, financial issues, and ongoing domestic disputes witnessed by Jacob, CPS has concluded that this environment is unsafe."
Judith's mouth opened, then snapped shut. "Wait, you can't just walk in here and decide I'm an unfit mother! This is ridiculous!"
Dana held up a paper, stamped and signed. "This is a court order. Effective immediately, temporary custody of Jacob Harper is being transferred to his uncle, Charles Harper. The judge has already approved it based on urgent circumstances. A full hearing will be scheduled to determine long-term custody."
Judith's jaw dropped. "What? You gave him to Charlie? Charlie Harper? The drunk? The degenerate who couldn't keep his pants zipped?"
Sandra cut her off, calm but firm. "Ma'am, the decision has been made. You may contest it in family court, but until further notice, Jacob is no longer under your supervision. If you attempt to interfere, it could escalate to supervised visitation only. And as for your comment on Mr. Harper..."
She took out another document and gave it to Judith.
"Charles Harper's medical reports. All clean, no sign of alcohol or drug usage. And Mr. Harper currently provides a stable home, is financially secure, and has a good reputation. According to our information, he was very supportive and helped your husband during his divorce settlement and even provided him with a place to stay. Not to mention, over the past year, he has donated a significant portion of his earnings to multiple charities, old-age homes, churches, cancer treatment plants, wildlife sanctuaries, and many other places. This shows his good and helpful nature. The court determined he is more suitable than either parent. If you wish to contest the ruling, you may do so in court. Until then, your parental rights are suspended."
Judith stood frozen in the doorway, the paper shaking in her hand. For the first time all day, her confidence cracked. The glow from yoga was gone.
"This is insane!" She couldn't believe what she heard about Charlie and his medical records.
She knew he was one of the top artists in the music industry and thought that he would spend his money on whores and strippers, but this... Charity and Charlie?
Judith's laugh came out sharp and ugly, like glass breaking. "Charity? Charlie Harper donating to charity? Are you kidding me? That man spent half his life throwing money at hookers and bartenders. He used to buy condoms by the crate and morning-after pills in bulk. The only donation he makes is throwing money at the cab drivers to drive his one-night stands home. Now you're telling me he's Mother Teresa with a martini shaker?"
Sandra didn't flinch. "Records don't lie. Mr. Harper has built a stable career, a household with multiple caretakers, and a strong support network. He is in a committed relationship, raising a young child, and has demonstrated responsibility that the court values highly."
Judith scoffed, shaking her head. "Charlie Harper couldn't be responsible if his life depended on it. He probably writes those donation checks just so people will stop calling him what he really is—a washed-up playboy with a guitar."
Dana's voice was almost icy. "Washed-up playboys don't win Grammys. They don't pay for cancer treatments. They don't fund shelters. They don't take in a neglected ten-year-old at midnight when his parents don't even notice he's gone. Whatever you believe about your brother-in-law, the facts say otherwise. And the facts are what the court cares about."
Judith's lip curled, her voice climbing into a shrill edge. "So that's it? Jake just gets ripped out of my house and dumped into Charlie's bachelor pad circus?"
Sandra's eyes narrowed. "He wasn't ripped out, Mrs. Harper. He left on his own. Children don't run away from homes where they feel safe."
That line hit like a sledgehammer. Judith's mouth snapped shut, the words stuck in her throat. For a flicker of a second, guilt flashed across her face before she smothered it with rage. "This is ridiculous. I'm calling my lawyer."
"Please do so. We are done here," Dana said with a polite nod. Then both of them left.
...
[Flashback – Malibu Jail, 10 a.m.]
Alan finally got his phone call. His hands trembled as he picked it up, punching in a number he had never thought he'd call again. The line rang once. Twice. Then a woman answered.
"This is Irina."
Alan swallowed hard. "Irina, it's Alan. Look, I know I've wasted your time before, and I know I'm not your favorite person, but please, I'm in jail right now and I need your help. Just hear me out."
There was a long pause. Then Irina said, "You're lucky. I'm nearby. Fifteen minutes. We talk face to face."
The line went dead.
Alan hung up the phone and pressed his forehead against the wall. "Thank you, God, for Russian women with no patience."
Fifteen minutes later, Irina walked into the visitors' area in a black dress and heels. Her presence alone made the guard sit up straighter. Alan rushed forward to the glass, picking up the phone on his side.
"Please," Alan begged immediately, his voice high and desperate, "I didn't do anything! Jake ran away last night, I went looking for him, I panicked, and the next thing I know I'm being dragged out of a women's bathroom by the LAPD and they put me in along with the inmates. This isn't fair!"
Irina's eyes narrowed, unbothered by his rambling. "Jake ran away? And you only noticed this morning?"
Alan froze. "Wait… you knew?"
She leaned back slightly, folding her arms. "Of course I knew. Jake is with Charlie, and he's safe. He walked there himself in the middle of the night. Do you understand what that means, Alan? Your son chose to run from his mom and dad."
Alan's face crumpled. "I was worried about him! I swear I was, Irina! Judith—she was supposed to keep track of him. I… I thought he was at a friend's house."
Irina's tone sharpened. "No. You thought wrong. And because of that mistake, Child Services has been alerted. Jake could easily end up in foster care with strangers. Is that what you want for him?"
Alan shook his head furiously, sweat forming on his forehead. "No, of course not! Please, I don't want him living with strangers. He's my son!"
Irina's eyes softened just a fraction. "Then listen carefully. The court is moving fast. They will not leave Jake in your custody, not after this. But there is another option. Charlie."
Alan blinked. "Charlie? You're saying… let Charlie take him in?"
Irina nodded once. "Charlie is stable. He is wealthy. He has support. And most importantly, Jake trusts him. If you love your son, you will stop clinging to pride, which I know you don't have, and think about his future. Under Charlie's roof, Jake will never go hungry, never worry about bills, and receive a proper education and tutors. All for free. What more could a father want than to see their kid grow up, have an easy life, education, money, and a car? And with Charlie's support, he might as well become a celebrity in the future. Imagine that."
Alan looked deep in thought.
She continued. "This is your chance to give him a better life instead of fighting for one you can't provide. And… if you're willing to cooperate, I can get you out of here today. All you have to do is say in court that you are in no position to raise him in a safe environment due to your financial situation and estranged marriage. You didn't even know Jake ran away until morning, and that Judith didn't even care about him and stopped you from calling the cops."
Alan stared at her. His hands clenched into fists, then loosened. This is his chance to get back at Judith and secure his son's future. Finally, he whispered, "Fine. Fine, you're right. Jake deserves better. Judith can go to hell. I'll take the deal. Just… get me out of here."
For the first time, Irina allowed the faintest smile. "Smart choice."
She stood, tapped her phone, and within minutes the wheels were already in motion. Paperwork, signatures, and a call to the judge. By noon, Alan was released.
...
[Present time]
Charlie sat before his computer with a smirk, "Never knew all those donations would come in handy at a time like this."
"Just how much did you donate?" Lisa asked. She was standing behind him, looking at the screen.
"No idea. I put 10% of my earnings into donations ever since I got the break. Anyway, Jake should be fine for now," Charlie said as he leaned back and stretched his arms. He looked up at her. "So... Lily is sleeping, Berta gone home, Laura busy with her tattoo shop, Jake is in his room with a video game and enough snacks to last a week, and you..." He raised an eyebrow with a smirk.
"God, I need a good fuck," Lisa said quickly as if she was desperate.
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[POWERSTONES AND REVIEWS PLS]
Support link: www.patr eon.com/UnknownMaster
[5 advance chs] [All chs available for all tiers] [No double billing.]
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AN: Kinda hit writer's block for the first time on this one. So, took a break for a week or so. Well, getting back into the groove again. And I've been going through some old comments and decided to add pregnancy early for this one and got some ideas to add Chelsea to the harem... 😎😎